Aster plant named `Parade`

ABSTRACT

The new aster cultivar `Parade` produces medium-sized flower heads with many medium length ray florets which have a distinctive purple color; an involucre that is long and funnel-shaped; and elliptic-shaped leaves that are medium-green in color and do not contain anthocyanin.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of asterplant hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Parade`.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by the inventor in acontrolled breeding program in Ter Aar, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent was a selection from proprietary breeding stock designed the"Butterfly family" while the male or pollen parent was a selection fromproprietary breeding stock designated the "P" family. `Parade` wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Ter Aar, TheNetherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar, by cuttings,first performed in April 1993 by the inventor in Ter Aar, TheNetherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

`Parade` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length, without a change in thegenotype of the plant. The following observations, measurements andvalues describe the new cultivar as grown in Bet Dagan, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of `Parade` which in combination distinguishthis aster as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. `Parade` is of medium height at the time flowering commences.

2. `Parade` produces relatively short elliptic shaped leaves of mediumgreen color that do not contain anthocyanin coloration.

3. The first flower heads produced are located only at the distal parts.

4. The flower head is medium in size with many ray florets.

5. The ray florets are medium in length, narrowly elliptic, and purplein color (R.H.S. 87A) during winter flowering.

6. The involucre is long and funnel-shaped.

7. `Parade` commences flowering very late compared to other asters.

The new cultivar is most similar to `Milka` (U.S. plant patentapplication Ser. No. 08/664,519) and `Karmijn` (U.S. plant patentapplication Ser. No. 08/664,520), both of which are described inco-pending applications of the inventor. These cultivars are similarbecause they each produce many ray florets and have a similar type offlower head. These cultivars differ, however, with respect to flowercolor, plant height, leaf color and leaf length.

The following Table provides several phenotypic characteristics that canbe used to distinguish the aster varieties `Parade`, `Milka` and`Karmijn`.

    ______________________________________                                        Ray Florets          Capitulum                                                Colors      Length  Diameter Diameter                                                                             Involucre                                 (RHS)       (mm)    (mm)     (mm)   Shape                                     ______________________________________                                        `Parade`                                                                             Purple   11-13   1.8    28-30  Funnel-shaped,                                 (87A)                          Long                                    `Milka`                                                                              Violet   14-16   2.0    24-27  Cylindrical,                                   (85A)                          Very Long                               `Karmijn`                                                                            Purple-  12-15   2.0    26-29  Campanulate,                                   Violet                         Medium                                         (81B)                          Length                                  ______________________________________                                    

The accompanying photographs show a typical specimen plant of the newcultivar. The colors in the photographs are as true as possible withcolor illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a side view of `Parade`.

Sheet 2 is a close-up of a flower from the new variety.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were takenindoors in a north light in Bet Dagan.

Botanical classification:

Species name.--Aster Novi-Belgii L.

Cultivar name.--`Parade`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary selection from the P family.

Female parent.--Proprietary selection from the Butterfly family.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by cuttings.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Convex.

Type.--Double.

Diameter across face.--28-30 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Purple.

Color (upper surface).--Purple R.H.S. 87A.

Color (under surface).--Same as upper surface.

Color (immature ray floret).--Yellow.

Shape.--Narrow elliptic, acute apex.

Size.--11-13 mm in length×1.8 mm in width.

Number of ray florets.--124-163 per flower.

C. Corolla of disc florets: `Parade` does not produce disc florets.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Absent.

Gynoecium.--Present.

E. Buds:

Size.--8 mm diameter just before opening.

Color.--R.H.S. color of flower petals as the bud opens is 87A.

Plant

A. General appearance: The height of `Parade` is medium, depending onlight; but under continuous (up to 131/2 hours) long day-lengthconditions, plant height can reach 2 m; branching is medium dense andthere are few if any hairs on main stem.

B. Foliage:

Color.--Dark green, R.H.S. 137A.

Shape.--Elliptic.

Margin.--Dentations on whole margin.

Size.--The first internode is at the first side flower under the topflower. Length: 5th Internode: 25-37 mm. 10th Internode: 33-58 mm. 15thInternode: 70-80 mm. 20th Internode: 84-106 mm. Width: 5th Internode:3.0-3.8 mm. 10th Internode: 4.0-5.5 mm. 15th Internode: 6.5-7.0 mm. 20thInternode: 9.0-10.5 mm.

C. Stem:

Length of internode.--5th Internode: 10-14 mm. 10th Internode: 13-19 mm.15th Internode: 15-26 mm. 20th Internode: 18-25 mm.

Thickness of Internodes.--5th Internode: 1.0-2.0 mm. 10th Internode:1.3-2.0 mm. 15th Internode: 2.2-3.0 mm. 20th Internode: 3.0-3.5 mm.

D. Side branch:

Length of Internode.--5th Internode: 21-36 mm. 10th Internode: 33-50 mm.15th Internode: 49-105 mm. 20th Internode: 80-158 mm.

E. Disease resistance: No abnormal disease problems have been noted todate. Accordingly, the disease resistance exhibited by this cultivarwhen compared to other known commercial aster varieties is not unique.However, the cultivar does appear to exhibit some resistance to tomatospotted wilt virus.

F. Fertility: Does not produce pollen and therefore is male sterile butcan serve as a female parent in crosses.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of aster plant named `Parade`,as illustrated and described.